Tibetan and Himalayan Library - THL

Sera Chöding
Hermitage (Sera Chöding RitröSe ra chos sdings ri khrod) was one of
TsongkhapaTsong kha pa’s principal retreat centers. It was the place where he gave many of his
most important teachings,2 and, as we have said, where he composed one of his most famous
works, his Great Commentary on the Prajñāmūla (Tsashé TikchenRtsa shes ṭīk chen).3ChödingChos sdings is the place where TsongkhapaTsong kha pa’s closest disciple, KedrupjéMkhas grub rje
(1385-1438), first met his master. It is where TsongkhapaTsong kha pa
ordered Jamchen ChöjéByams chen chos rje (1354-1435), the founder of SeraSe ra, to
go to China as his representative. At ChödingChos sdings, TsongkhapaTsong kha pa tamed the “site-spirit,” converting him into a protector of Buddhism. Finally, it is
the place where TsongkhapaTsong kha pa entrusted his Tantric teachings to Jé Sherap SenggéRje shes rab seng ge (1383-1445), the founder of the Tantric Colleges.

TsongkhapaTsong kha pa’s throne at ChödingChos sdings – the place where he gave some of his
most important teachings.

It is perhaps because of this association with Jé Sherap SenggéRje shes rab seng ge that at some point
in its history the site came under the aegis of the Lower Tantric College. We do
not know precisely when this occurred, but from that point on, ChödingChos sdings became the location of one of the Tantric College’s annual ritual cycles. Before 1959, SeraSe ra was
responsible for sending one monk every year to serve as caretaker of the main
ChödingChos sdings temple. This appears to be the vestige of a more formal
affiliation to SeraSe ra in the past. However, up to 1959 the hermitage was for all intents and purposes run by
monks of the Lower
Tantric College.

After liberalization permitted the rebuilding of the smaller monasteries around
LhasaLha sa,
SeraSe ra formally claimed ChödingChos sdings as its own. Today, it is the property of
SeraSe ra and has no formal affiliation with the Tantric College. There is one
elder caretaker monk who keeps the hermitage open for visitors and pilgrims.